We know your priority is to find a great music teacher, so we hand-pick every private instructor who’s invited to teach in the Oaks Music Studio community.
Qualifications
Some of what we look for in our music teachers includes:
- College degrees in music and/or music education
- Membership in professional music organizations such as ASTA (American String Teacher’s Association), MTAC (Music Teachers Association of California), NATS (National Assoc. of Teachers of Singing), ASCAP, AGMA, etc.
- Several years or more experience both as a private music instructor and professional performer
- Positive recommendations from other music professionals, teachers and current students
- Strong commitment to maintaining a thriving music teaching studio
Instructor Policies (cancelation, tuition, practice expectations)
While studio policies vary among instructors (see their individual pages for details), here are some that are standard and should be expected:
- Cancellations usually need to be made 24-hours in advance of your lesson time, except in an emergency.
- Some instructors offer make-up lessons for absences, some do not. Either way, payment is typically expected for all regularly scheduled lessons.
- Many instructors bill tuition monthly and in advance.
- Many instructors have a minimum practice requirement. You should be as committed to the learning process as your instructor is to teaching you.
Open Door Policy
The decision whether or not to sit in on your child’s lessons is highly individual, but we feel it is important that your right to do so is always respected. That’s why the instructors at Oaks Music maintain a strict Open Door Policy. You don’t have to sit in (and sometimes it’s best not to), but you ALWAYS have the option to do so.
Our Music Teachers
The following instruments are offered from our music teachers right here in Thousand Oaks. Click through to view teacher bios, contact information, schedules and more.
Brian has been teaching for over 15 years. In addition to his private studio of saxophone, flute, and clarinet students, he currently works as a clinician, woodwind instructional specialist, and substitute band director for the Conejo Valley and Las Virgenes school districts.
click here to see full teacher bio
Professional violinist (trained with Josef Gingold and Robert Lipsett), Composer, Suzuki Certified. Students ages 3 and up.
click here to see full teacher bio
With a 15 years of experience teaching, Dillon has learned that teaching music is about more than just learning an instrument—it’s about developing life skills like persistence, confidence, and empathy. As a drum teacher, he creates a fun, safe space for students to express themselves and grow, no matter their starting point. Whether a child is a beginner or ready for the next level, Dillon is there to guide them every step of the way.
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Stephen holds a doctorate of Musical Arts from USC, a Masters of Music from UCLA, and a Bachelor of Music from Cal State Northridge. Dr. Nutt serves as Low Brass Faculty at Cal Poly University San Luis Obispo and Antelope Valley College. Stephen is an active freelance performer based in the LA area, performing all over California with various orchestras and performing groups. His experience covers a wide range of musical styles from classical to traditional jazz and modern fusion. Steven is a permanent member of several musical groups and has produced several concerts. Steve lives in Winnetka, CA.
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Eric Johnson-Tamai is an active freelance performer in the LA area.He has played with the LA Philharmonic, Cabrillo Music Theatre, Riverside County, Culver City, Antelope Valley and Marina del Rey summer Symphonies, Long Beach Municipal Band, Opera Santa Barbara and many others. He has been an active private teacher in the Conejo, San Fernando and Simi Valley areas for 20 years and his students have performed as soloists with the Thousand Oaks Philharmonic, participated in the All-State and All-Southern CA Honor Bands, been finalists in the Pasadena Showcase House Instrumental Competition, been a Statewide Winner of the MTAC VOCE competition, and have been members of the Conejo Valley, Los Angeles and CSUN Youth Orchestras. Since 2004, Eric has served as the Assistant Director of the band programs at A.E. Wright and A.C. Stelle Middle Schools.
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Jasmin offers high quality music instruction for Piano, Songwriting, Music Theory, Music Production and Native American Flutes. She has coached, recorded, collaborated and performed with many gifted, upcoming and established artists, musicians, music producers and sound engineers.
For more information and sound samples please visit: https://www.integrativesounds.com
Rogerio Peixoto (pronounced “pay-show-to”) is a Brazilian guitarist, educator and designer based in Thousand Oaks, California. "Contrary to general perception, teaching requires creativity, as every person may have a unique set of natural abilities and challenges...there is always something new to me, and I enjoy creating solutions."
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Scott has spent the last 16 years playing the trumpet professionally and has performed in the pit orchestra for over 40 musicals. He is a frequent coach and clinician to local schools and has taught lessons in the area for a number of years.
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Sloane Reali
Vocal Coaching by Sloane
Sloane has been a Voice and Confidence Coach for over 20 years helping public speakers, teachers, therapists, doctors, authors and corporate leaders to prepare vocally in their professions. A leader in her field making guest appearances on Television, Radio and Podcasts as an expert on the power of voice, clients have used Sloane’s services to prepare for television appearances, world tours and auditions including American Idol, The Voice, and Disney. Her client list includes but is not limited to Sony Artist Kid LaRoi, Dishwalla, the reggae band Iration, Singer Songwriters, Greyson Chance, WhyGhostryder (Warner Chapel), Syd Franklin, Brandi Rose and the Peach Tree Rascals whose first live performance was at Lollapalooza in Chicago.
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Victor focuses on a solid foundation, efficient practice, and individual needs. He has vast performing experience from New York to LA/Hollywood and provides lessons for advanced levels.
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Wendy has taught the cello for over 20 years to students of all ages and levels; from the young beginner to college music majors. Her emphasis is on a strong technical foundation while developing a student's love for classical music. Wendy is the assistant principal cellist with Thousand Oaks' New West Symphony. All ages/levels welcome.
click here to see full teacher bio